Method of decorating fabrics and the like



Jam;

W. ROBINSON El" AL METHOD OF DECORATING FABR ICS AND THE LIKE Filed April 1, 1958 3 sheets sheet l INVENTORS WALTER Roam/sow JOSEPH WESTEMEYER J2.

CHAELES A. DQIELOZ ATTORNEY s Jan. 9, 1940 w. ROBINSON ET AL 2,186,176 METHOD OF DECORATING FABRICS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filqd April 1, 1938 WALTER Bob/N sow JOSEPH was TEMEYEE iz.

CHARLES A. DOELOZ 68 ATTORNEYS Jan. 9, 1940 w. ROBINSON El AL 2,186,

METHOD OF DECORATING FABRICS AND THE LIKE Filed April-l, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS v WALTER ROBINSON JOSEPH WESTEMEYEEJJK CHARLES AboeLoz A ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 9, 1940 PATENT orries METHOD or DECORATING mimics AND THE LIKE Walter Robinson, Long Island City, and Joseph Westemeyer, 'Jr., Bronx, N. Y., and Charles A.

Borloz, Bergen, N. J.

Application April 1, 1938, Serial No. 199,350

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of decorating fabrics and the like and more particularly to a method of printing multicolored designs thereupon.

The method heretofore used in printing colored designs on fabrics includes the use of a plurality of screens or rollers, each separately engraved for each color embodied in the complete design. In other'words, each screen or roller is engraved for each color to' fit the figures engraved on the other screens or rollers, and the complete design is produced by the successive printing on the fabric the separate component parts.

It is now the object of the present invention. to provide a method by which a complete design may be produced without the necessity of engraving each screen or roller for each color embodied in the design and which eliminates the necessity of accuracy of register; or in words of broad inclusion, the object is to provide a method for producing a complete multicolored design from a plurality of non-fitting or non-registering differently colored patterns with the consequent elimination of technical and artistic skill, experience and judgment connected with the method heretofore used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method whereby the fabric may be printed in a plurality of colors, properly distributed and blended, without the necessity of providing a separate screen, stencil or roller individually engraved for each color in fitting relationship with the other colors forming the component parts of the design.

A further object is to provide a method combining the features of application printing with the features of discharge printing which may be used for any colors of any density and is" applicable to dark backgrounds as well as to white or light colored backgrounds, such as pastel or medium.

Still a further object of the invention is. to provide a method which may be carried out by extremely simple appliances in ordinary printing establishments and which will lend itself with equal advantageous results to screen printing, roller printing, or any other conventional process of applying color heretofore used. with a consequent substantial saving in manufacturing cost as compared with the conventional method.

Other objects and advantages inherent in the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds and when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate-by way of example how the objects of the invention may be carried out. v I

The method contemplates the production of a master pattern from one or more master screens or rollers, depending in number on the number of 5 cardinal colors embodied in the design to be produced; and a confining or outline pattern not engraved to fit the master pattern.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a plan view of thefabric printed 10 with one of the master screens according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the fabric printed from another master screen engraved for another color, and

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the fabric printed from a master screen of'still another color. 1

Figure 4 is a plan view of the fabric printed successively from the screens illustrated in Figures fining pattern shown in Figure 5 superimposed upon the master pattern illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a. plan view of a fabric embodying the complete design produced from the superimposed patterns illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the table 80 upon which the run of fabric to be printed is placed for printing by means of the screens referred to, and,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the screens employed.

It is conceded that attempts have been made in the past to use rollers or screens-which are out of register with the outline or confining pattern, such as that described in U. S. Patent No.

599,134, dated February 15, 1898. These previous 0" methods lend themselves only to a black background which is first produced' by padding the v fabric with an aniline liquor. The pattern or figures are then printed with a suitable chemical or resist on the fabric so padded. After aging, the color is applied, on the black, to the white figures by means of screens engraved with a solid blotch or square figure. By this hit-or-mlss method the color of the blotch or squareof the master or color screen will come partly on the white figures and partly on the black background, or it may be that some of the color will come entirely on the black background.

It is obvious that this old method lends itself only to bright colors of very light density I fabric colors of a heavy density naturally would stain the dark background. It will also be understood that this dark or black background does not blend with the color pattern to form discolorations or blends of color.

In other words, these old methods merely utilize the covering ability of the black or dark ground application print or developed black ground dye to hide the lighter colors of the master screen. v

The present invention, on the other hand, -is not limited to a black or dark background, but is applicable as well to white and tinted backgrounds and to colors of any density whether in the master pattern or background.

Although the essence of the invention is predicated upon the idea of master pattern and outlining or confining pattern which are entirely out of register and not fitted to each other in any particular design, its vast improvement over the methods heretofore used will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Referring to the drawings, the fabric In to be decorated or printed is placed on the table generally indicated at I I. Usually, the process starts with a white or untinted fabric, but it will be understood from the following description that colored fabrics may also be used. The master pattern is produced on the white fabric by means of the color screens or master screens mounted in frames generally indicated at I2. The mechanical construction of this frame and screen is conventional and does not constitute part of the invention. The screen I3 is engraved with arbitrary blotches as shown in greater detail in Figures. 1 to 3, through which the die will penetrate to the cloth.

The frame is provided with clamps M which are arranged to register with the adjustable clamps l5 on the table. These clamps merely serve to hold the frame securely in position on the table and to space accurately the successive impressions on the fabric. The dye is poured into the frame and spread over the screen by means of the stick or bar IS in the conventional manner.

The number of screens used depends upon the number of colors or rather cardinal colors there are in the finisheddesign, since superimposed colors will produce variations. Each screen is engraved for only a single cardinal color. The In is printed successively from these screens. The blotches in the master screens for producing the master pattern or the various colors embodied in the design are preferably so arranged that when the dye is applied to the fabric, the blotches will be more or less evenly dispersed thereover. It is emphasized, however, that no fitting or registry is necessary.

Referring in greater detail to the finished design shown by way of example in Figure 7, this embodies figures in yellow, blue and red colors, and blends thereof because of superimposition of these colors, on a pink background. This finished design is produced by first printing the fabric successively through the screens engraved for these colors. Thus the screen engraved for yellow will produce blotched yellow background I I on the fabric as shown in Figure 1. The screen engraved for blue will produce a background l8 as shown in Figure 2 and the screen engraved for red will produce a background l8 as shown in gure 3.

When the fa ric is successively printed through these screens, a master pattern as shown in Figure 4 will be produced. This master pattern consists of a combination of the various differently colored blotches shown in Figures 1 to 3. It will be understood, however, that the figures on this master pattern or in the master screens, do not have to be of the exact nature shown in the various views, but may be of any nature suitable for the design to be produced, the main object being to provide a conglomeration of colors substantially covering the fabric.

These master patterns may of course be printed in advance on fabrics in a number of various combinations and stored for future printing with a confining or outline pattern with an enormous saving in expense. It will also be understood that one master pattern may be used with a great number of different confining patterns.

The outline or confining design shown in Figure 5 is then applied to the master pattern shown in Figure 4 by means of a screen which in the instant example is engraved to produce a pink background outlining the various design elements on the master pattern. The superimposition of 'this'design on the master pattern will produce the effect shown in Figure 6.

The colors or dyes of the master pattern are of a composition-sensitive to certain reducing chemicals, the selection of which depends upon the dyes themselves as well as upon the construction and nature of the fabric to be printed. Most frequently they are made sensitive to hydrosulphite, which compound is then mixed with a nonsensitive pink dye used for applying the outline pattern.

After the fabric shown in Figure 6 has gone through the conventional processes of steaming, aging and washing, the colors of the master pattern will be reduced to white wherever the hydrosulphite has contacted the fabric and the finished fabric embodying the design shown in Figure 7 will be brought out. This fabric will have a pink background outlining the various design elements in the colors yellow, blue and red and blends thereof wherever these cardinal colors overlap.

It will be understood that a white background or confining pattern may be produced simply by using hydrosulphite without dye. master pattern may be produced in white and/or color on a dyed background and the outlining or confining pattern may be printed with pastel or medium or dark color without departing from the scope of the invention. It may also beprinted with white and pastel, or white and medium, or white and dark, or any combination of said colors in as many depths or strengths of shade necessary for producing the desired effect.

The invention may also be used for reclaiming fabrics already. printed.

Although in the specific example described, the master pattern was produced first, it will be understood that the process can be reversed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is also evident that other variations of the basic principle herein disclosed may be resorted to within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The herein described method of printing designs on textile fabrics which consists in dispersing at random over the fabric a plurality of arbitrary differently colored figures, outlining on said fabric the figures of the finished design and then obliterating said arbitrary c'olored figures not confined within the figures of the finished design,

So also the figures. a monotone outline pattern tor produc- 2. The herein described process 01 printing designs on textile fabrics which consists in producing a master pattern comprising a plurality 01' distinct arbitrary figures in the colors embodied in the finished design and covering said master pattern with a monotone outline pattern for producing the ground coloration outlining the design to be produced leaving the difierently colored signs on textile wines which consists in dispersingovertheiabricapluralityotarbitrary and distinctfisuresinthecolorsembodiedin the finisbedd'eaimthenswlflnatothetabriawlthing the ground coloration of the fabric and outlining the design to be produced leaving the colored figures within said outline unaffected, and extracting the arbitrary colored figures covered by said outline pattern.

4. The herein described method of printing designs on textile fabrics which consists in dispersing'over the fabrics plurality of arbitrary figures in colors corresponding to those oithe finished design to produce a master pattern, and covering said master pattern with anon-fitting con- 7 finingpattern for outlining said arbitrary-figures in the figures of the finished design and obliterating the of said master pattern outside of said outline. a 

